Etihad Sets Course for the Seychelles

Posted 27/05/2011

United Arab Emirates national carrier Etihad Airways is to inaugurate flights between Abu Dhabi and Mahé in the Republic of Seychelles from November 1, subject to government approval.  The airline will operate four return services per week using an Airbus A320 configured with a two class interior – 16 Pearl Business and 120 Coral Economy seats – and offering 1,088 seats each week.

“The Seychelles has strong and growing appeal as a premium leisure destination, with increasing numbers of UAE residents and European travellers holidaying there,” said James Hogan, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways.  “Our increased frequencies from mid-2011 on some of our primary routes from Europe make the approaching Northern winter period an ideal time to launch these new services.  We expect this will be a hugely popular destination, in particular for holidaymakers from the GCC and European markets, due to the ease of connecting services through Abu Dhabi and convenient scheduling.”

Seychelles has been a popular destination for international travellers but it is expecting a rise in visitors after being selected as the honeymoon destination for the UK’s Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, a royal couple popular across the globe.  The archipelago comprises 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean, located off of the east coast of Africa.  The 41 inner islands constitute the oldest mid-oceanic granite islands on earth, with another 74 islands forming the low-lying coral atolls and reef islands of the outer islands. The inner islands cluster mainly around the principal islands of Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, forming the cultural and economic hub of Seychelles, as well as the centre of its tourism industry.

 

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